Steve Seyfried
PLAYWRIGHT – ACTOR – DIRECTOR
FLIGHT, A NEW MUSICAL
"Flight" wins Stanley Drama Award.
(Left to right: Jim Scully, Elise Seyfried, Steve Seyfried and Terrance McNally)
Feb 20 & 23, 2004 at Storm Theatre
In 1938 Howard Hughes piloted an airplane that set the around-the-world speed record. He was at the height of his fame. Hughes had produced award-winning movies. He was designing and building aircraft for the U.S. War Department. He was developing TWA into a world-class commercial airline. His companions were beautiful actresses and the most powerful figures of business and government.
By the mid 1960's, however, this American icon had become an obsessive recluse, wasting away in a series of hotel penthouses. FLIGHT traces the story of this amazing character, capturing the spirit of America in the Mid-20th Century while offering a poignant message for our own times.
Throughout his amazing life, Howard Hughes made front page headlines around the world. Even now he remains a compelling figure as we begin a new century. Indeed, interest in the enigmatic Mr. Hughes is certainly growing. Recent press releases from Hollywood have announced production of two movies. Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorcese are teaming up with Miramax, and Jim Carrey is part of a Castle Rock project.
FLIGHT received the 1999 Stanley Drama Award. The award was presented by Terrence McNally in a ceremony at the Lambs Club in New York City in April. The award is currently administered by Wagner College. It is designed to recognize and encourage emerging theatre artists. Previous winners of the Stanley Award include Mr. McNally, Lonnie Elder III and, more recently, Jonathan Larson for his musical RENT.
In March of 2001 FLIGHT was one of five plays chosen for a staged reading at the Southern Appalachian Playwrights Conference in North Carolina.
STAGING
The production is staged in a single unit set.
Suggestive set pieces and furniture denote various locations.
Musical bridges and lighting changes frame each scene.CHARACTERS
The Principals
Howard Hughes - American industrialist, financier,
engineer, pilot and movie producer
Beth Ames - an actress
Alex Graham - Hughes' business assistantSupporting Roles
Diane Hartley - an actress
Trevor Burns - a film director
Roger Aldersen - a film director
General Hap Arnold - head of the U.S. Army Air Corps
Henry Kaiser - a California ship builder
Jack Frye - founder of a commercial aviation company
Mr. Reminger - Head of Hughes' security
Miss Marshall - Hughes' personal secretaryPlus various other incidental characters
A chorus of 10-15 performers play all the supporting roles.SCENE BREAKDOWN - Musical numbers in bold
ACT I
i: Los Angeles Airport - OPEN UP (Chorus)
ii: Movie Studio - LET ME TELL YOU (Colleen, Betty, Beth)
iii: A Hangar at Hughes Aircraft
iv: A Supper Club - CURIOUS PAIR (Hughes, Beth)
v: Various Locations - HOWARD'S MARCH (Hughes & Chorus)
vi: The Set of "The Renegade"
vii: The Hangar - DREAMER OF DREAMS (Hughes)
viii: A Restaurant
ix: An Airfield near the Hangar - OPEN UP (reprise - chorus)
ACT II
i: The Set of "The Renegade" TWO GUN TILLIE (chorus)
ii: Various Locations - HOWARD'S MARCH (reprise - Hughes)
iii: Beth's Apartment - CURIOUS PAIR (reprise - Hughes & Beth)
iv: A Banquet Hall - THE GUY'S A LITTLE CRAZY (reporters, Sam, Myra, Alan & chorus)
v: The Hangar - HIDE AND SEEK (Hughes & Graham)
vi: A Tavern - SO CLOSE (Beth)
vii: Hughes' Office
viii: Hughes' Office
ix: A Los Angeles Hotel
x: A Las Vegas Penthouse - HERE I STAND ALONE (Hughes)
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